Top Three Trends in Search Engine Marketing

I am, of course, referring to some recently released good reading from Marketing Sherpa. The full title of the report is "Top Three Search Marketing Trends to Watch in 2006". Here's my take in case you wanted it:

"Trend #1. Search Engines as TV Networks Jockeying for Audience"

This one seems straight forward enough. In fact, I'd call it less of a trend and more of an inevitability. There's money to be made and the size of the pot is directly proportional to the size of the audience. After all, they only get paid when we click...

"Trend #2. SEO Still a Tiny Portion of Total Search Marketing Spend"

I guess the trend here is two-fold: A. Firms will continue to spend a ton of money on paid-search (which is great, since they'll still need people like me to manage their campaigns). B. Firms will finally start spending more on SEO (which is great, because my co-workers do that).

On that note, I'd like to say that I find it very funny that the group that is most interested in SEO right now is also the group that stands to gain the least from it. Sure, a dedicated individual can make some pretty good money online if they've got what it takes. Good rankings can pay the bills. But for 'Giant Corporation A' good rankings could pay for a lot more than that. Like a new Leer jet. Executives of America take notice! You are losing money everyday that you aren't working with a high-quality SEO vendor to better your rankings. (If you're interested, let me know.)

"Trend #3. Search Marketing, A New Application for Press Releases"

Now that Marketing Sherpa has come out and said that press releases are good for SEO I think that this little trend will be a self-fulfilling prophecy. As with all SEO tactics, this one will have its day and then will be left behind, a smoking pile of search engine refuse. Oh well, enjoy it while it lasts.

In conclusion, read the executive summary (PDF).